Wire-stretcher.



, LEE HIGGINS, or EVONA, KENTUCKY.

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1 Specification of LettersiPatntQ Patented March 9, 1909.

Application filedDceemher d, 1908. Serial, No. $66,033.

To a3 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE Rrcorns, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Evona,

efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device, whereby strand wires or fence panels may be strained and the strain retained whilethe device is being adjusted to a newpoint upon the member to be stretched, a step by step action.

bcingthus secured.

With these and other objects in invention consists in certain'novel'features of construction, as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the referred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan View of the improved device applied. Fig. 2 is a section" on the line 2-2 0 Fig. 1.

The improved devlce comprises in general, a rectangular mainframe formed with spaced side members -41 and end mem-' bers 12-13, the end member 12 having a hook 14 extending therefrom and the end member 13 provided with a transverse bearing 15. 'The side members 10-11 are provided, respectively, with transversely allned bearings 16-1-7.

Mounted forrotation through the bearings 1617 is a main operatin shaft 18, and mounted for rotation through the bearing.15 is another shaft 19, the latter shaft threaded as shown at 20 externally of the frame. The threaded portion 20 of the shaft 19 extends for a considerabledistance beyond the frame, and engagin over this threaded portion is a straining evice preferably formed of an elongated open frame 21 having a threaded aperture in one end to receive the threaded portion 20 of the shaft at 30. view, the

I and with a hook 22 at the opposite end By this arrangement, it will be obvious that when the shaft- 19 rotated, the member 21 will be moved longitudinally thereof.

Connected to'the shaft 19 'within the main frame is, a bevel gear pinion 23, and connected to the shaft 18 also within the main frame is a bevel gear 24 engaging with the pinion 23, as shown.

The shaft l9'isprovided witha stop shoul der or collar 25 external of the bearing 15 and likewise provided with a loose washer 26 between the hub of-the pinion 2'3 and the bearing 15, while a smaller loose washer 27 is located upon the shaft 18 between the hub of the gear 24 and the frame member 10.

end of the shaft'19 extends, while the opposite end of thearm 28 extends through an aperture in the frame member 12, as shown the main frame by a clamp bolt 31 provided with a binding nut 32 and a spacer member 33. By this means, itwill be obvious that the arm 28 is firmly secured in position and forms an cfiicient support for the inner end of the shaft 19. vThe arm 28 is rigidly secured to the main frame by the terminal andthe clamp bolt 31 with its-nut 32, so that all danger of displacement is avoided and the shaft; 19 retained in position and firmly held from displacement under the severe strains to which it will be subjected when in use.

Rigidly connected to the ,frame member 13 by a clamp bolt is a plate 34 having a curved rib 35 extending therefrom, the rib having an inner concave face indicated at 36. Pivoted at 37 upon the plate 34 is a lever 38 having a cam face 39 at one end,

The arm 28 is still further secured to ,By this means, the friction. between the the cam face having serrations 4O correspondlng to and operating in the concave surfaces 3540. Thcline of pull of the 'p device, it will be noted, is substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane of the to operate.

shaft 19 and also substantially in alinement with the line of movement of the straining device 2l22.

Means will be provided for engaging the hook 22 with the wire which is to be strained or stretched, and any suitable grip device maybe employed for this purpose, but as this grip device does not form a part of the present invention, it is not illustrated,

In using the improved device, the hook la is connected in any suitable manner to a rigid or stationary support, such for in stance, as a fence post, and the straining device 21 rotated to move it to the outer end of the screw portion of the shaft 19 and the hook 22 connected in any suitable manner to the fence member to be strained. The shaft 18 is then rotated in any suitable manner, preferably by a crank 42 applied to one of the square ends 43 or 44 of the shaft to cause the gears 2i-23 to rotate the shaft 19, and thus cause the straining device When the member 21 is moved to the inner end of the threaded portion 20, the terminal of the wire which is being strained is inserted in the grip device -38 and disconnected from the hook member 22 and the straining device 21 returned to the outer end of the threaded portion 20 andagain connected to the wire to be strained,

' the grip deviceretaining the strain which has been secured until the straining device is in position to be again operated. By

this means, it will be obvious that the straining of the wire is accomplished step by step, the grip device and the straining device thus cooperating to produce the desired result.

The improved device is simple in con struction, can be very strongly and inexpensively manufactured, and applied for a variety of purposes, but as above noted, is more especially adapted for straining the longitudinal members of wire fences.

What is claimed is I l, A device of the class described, com prising a frame having a bearing in one end member and with a. holding means carried by the other end and with transversely alined bearings in'the side members, a shaft mounted for rotation through said transversely alined bearings, a shaft mounted for rotation through said end bearing with the portion of the shaft which extends beyond the frame threaded, a wire straining device having a threaded aperture and engaging said threaded shaft, interengaging. gears carried by said shafts, an arm having an intermediate bearing through whichfisaid trans verse shaft extends and witha lateral offsetat one end provided with a bearing engaging the inner end of said threaded shaft and with the other end supported in said frame,

and means for rigidly connecting said arm 2. A device ofthe class described comprising a frame having a bearing in one end member and with a holding means carried by the other end and with transversely alined hearings in the side members, a shaft mounted for rotation through. said trans versely ali'ned bearings, a shaft mounted for rotation through said end bearing with the portion of the shaft which extends beyond.

the frame threaded, a'wire straining device having a threaded aperture and engagingsaid threaded shaft, interengaging' gears carried by said shafts, a wire grip device carried by said frame substantially in alinement with the path of the wire straining.

device, an arm having an intermediate bearing through which said transverse shaft 8X- tends and with a lateral offset at one end provided with a bearing engaging the inner end of said threaded shaft and with the other end supported in said frame, and

means for rigidly connecting said arm to sa1d frame.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

LEE RIGGINS, 

